House Congressional Resolution 305 (H.CON.RES. 305), dubbed the National Bike Bill sponsored by Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), which passed the House of Representatives on May 21, 2008, is scheduled to be considered by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, this Thursday, July 31, 2008, at 10am. Please take a moment to contact your Senator on the Committee to thank them in advance for their support of this resolution which recognizes the importance of bicycling in transportation and recreation.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

About 40 people attended the press conference on bicycle safety. The event was held in the Ocean City Transportation Center which is the northern terminus of Bicycle Route OC1 which runs along Haven Avenue.

Pam Fischer, director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety was the main speaker and she went over safety tips for bicyclists and encouraged motorists to share the road and look out for bikes.

The press conference was followed by a bike ride on Haven Avenue, riders got a first hand look at New Jersey's first bicycle boulevard which connects the transportation center to a 1/2 mile rail trail. Kudos to Ocean City.

Sharrow or Shared Lane Markings on Haven Avenue

My only critique of the campaign is that we need to continue to encourage people to take up bicycling because it is good for them and good for the environment, and that there is safety in numbers, a motorist is less likely to collide with a personwalking and bicycling if more people walk or bicycle. These findings were reported in this 2003 article in Injury Prevention Magazine.

Cross street closed to through traffic with a curb cut for bicycles and pedestrians

Friday, July 11, 2008

Perhaps the biggest news since the election of Portland Bicyclist Sam Adams is the successful campaign run by Jerry Fried, founder of Bike Montclair. He was sworn in last week as Mayor of Montclair Township.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Ocean City , New Jersey - Ocean City has become a bike rider's paradise with the new Haven Avenue Bike Route and improvements to West Ahttp://walkbikejersey.blogspot.com/venue to expand bike access. Always known for its famous Boardwalk and a variety of bike-a-thons, more people are using bikes to get around this island community.

Pam Fisher, the Director of the New Jersey Division of Traffic Safety, has appropriately selected Ocean City to kick off a new statewide campaign on Bike Safety. Ms. Fisher and other dignitaries from the South Jersey Traffic Safety Alliance and AtlantiCare will kick off this campaign at Noon on Tuesday, July 15 at the intersection of Haven Avenue & 9 th Street - the beginning of the Haven Avenue Bike Route.

The event will feature guest speakers who will discuss the importance of bike safety and Tuckahoe Bike Shop will provide 20 bikes so Director Fisher and other dignitaries can ride Haven Avenue after the event.

The Haven Avenue Bike Route is a two mile long City Street where the speed limit has been reduced to 15 mph and stop signs have been added to increase safety. The new Route 52 Causeway bike route will tie into the Haven Avenue Route making it possible to ride from Ocean City to a network of bikeways that extends all the way to Mays Landing. Additional safe bike routes are being planned throughout Ocean City to interconnect every section of the community.

Sgt. Charles Simonson of the Ocean City Police Department noted, " Ocean City is committed to making infrastructure improvements that safely incorporate bicycle transportation into our existing roadway network. An important part of this integration is to properly educate motorists and riders about the state laws concerning safe biking and to increase traffic safety awareness throughout the entire community. This effort should help to establish Ocean City as one of the premier biking destinations in the region."

Bicycle riders are reminded to ride on the right, obey all signals, ride single file and ride with traffic.----

WHAT: Local cyclists will provide a demonstration of proper bike safety gear, such as helmets, clothing, reflectors and related equipment. Officials will also provide an overview of bicycle safety, including the rules for safely sharing the roadways with motorists.

Representatives from the medical community will discuss trauma injuries that can occur as a result of bike crashes.

WHERE:Courtyard directly in front of theHyatt Morristown atHeadquarters Plaza3 Speedwell Ave., Morristown. (In the event of inclement weather, the event will be moved inside to a room off the Hyatt Lobby.)

WHEN: Thursday, July 10, 2008, beginning at 11 a.m.

For Further Information Contact: Maureen Sczpanski, 609-984-2529 NJ Office of the Attorney General, NJ Department of Law and Public Safety.

Sunday, July 06, 2008

The Boro of Point Pleasant Beach has bucked the Jersey Shore's devil may care attitude towards pedestrians with a new bike ped advisory committee and at least one carefully designed intersection. Purple Heart Blvd (Arnold Ave) and Ocean Ave at the entrance to the popular Jenkinson's Boardwalk. The intersection features an all-pedestrian no traffic turn phase known to traffic engineers as the "Barnes Dance". For those NJ Drivers who believe that right turn on red is a protected right they went further with a bold "No Turn On Red" lighted sign.

As was pointed out in an earlier comment the Point received a Bicycle Friendly Community "Honorable Mention". I have to say that I question the title given out by the BFC board. Like most other shore towns there are almost no bicycle amenities, let's hope that they give the boro a long to-do list to achieve bronze status.

The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission (DRJTBC) remains uncommitted to the inclusion of the path, citing the extra cost which will add about 7% to the projected total cost of the project. Despite the fact that the number one request from the public has been the inclusion of the bicycle and pedestrian pathway.

This petition is the launching of the final push to ensure that the DRJTBC designs a 21st Century Bridge that is accessible to all users of the transportation system, not just diminishing motor vehicle traffic.

Thursday, July 03, 2008

Wall Township continues to cobble together a bicycle path network
From the Asbury Park Press - "Township officials plan to ask the state Department of Transportation for $390,850 to extend the Edgar Felix Bike Path to the Howell boundary as part of a statewide plan for a bike path stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Delaware River."
The Edgar Felix Bike Path is a paved rail trail from the Manasquan line to Allaire State Park, A new north south path the Route 18 trail is a two mile path on state land that was originally acquired for the extension of that highway.
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WalkBikeJersey is the source for news and analysis of bicycling and walking issues in New Jersey. The authors are advocates and professionals working to make our residents healthier, our air cleaner, our streets safer and the overall quality of life in New Jersey better.Banner Photo- Bike Touring: Sunrise Mt Rd - Stokes State Forest, NJ